Toy pistol.



W. R. ATKINSON. TOY PISTOL.

urmonlon Hum ram. 1911.

Patented Jan. 16, 1912.

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TOY PISTOL.

APPLICATION FILED PEB.2, 1911K Patented. Jan, 1.6. 1912 UNITED sTAtrEsr rENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM R. ATKINSON, 0F HOMESTEAD, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0 JOSEPH D. KILGORE, 0F HOMESTEAD, PENNSYLVANIA.

TOY PISTOL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 2, 1911.

Patented Jan. 16,1912.

Serial No. 606.280.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that. I, VVILLIAM R. ATKIN- SUN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Homestead, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in 'loy Pis tols, of which the following is a specificar tion.

This invention relates to toy pistols, particularly to that type of pistol for exploding what is commonly known as paper caps and especially where such "caps are mounted in strip form.

The pistol of the present invention is designed to use a strip of paper cap ammunition wound into a roll and placed in a storing chan'iber from which it is fed auto matically by suitable means whenever the trigger is pulled. thus advancing a cap to explosive position at each discharge of the pistol until the strip is exhausted. the whole forming a repeating toy cap pistol.

Generally speaking, the pistol consists of but three movable parts, a hammer, a trigger, and a cap strip feeding finger. and one spring for rflurning said parts to normal position after the trigger has been pulled and the pressure thereon relieved. These parts are contained within a suitably shaped closed frame in which also is the storing chamber for the ammunition roll, said chamber and the operative parts being accessible at one side of the frame through an,

opening normally covered by a pivoted plate and held in position by the same spring that actuates the firing mechanism.

For the purpose of more clearly presenting this invention that it may be fully understood, attention is directed to the accompanying drawings and to the following detailed description thereof.

In said drawings :-Figure 1 is a side elevation of a toy pistol embodying the invention. Fig. 2 isa similar view with one side of the frame removed to show the internal mechanism, the parts being in fired position. Figs. 3 and 4 are views similar to Fig. 2, the internal mechanism being in a ditterent po sition in each figure. Fig. 5 is a. top view of.

the ammunition strip din finger, and Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are enlarged diagrammatic views illustrating the cooperation of the trigger and hammer. Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view on the line 9-9, Fig. 1. Fig.

10 is a perspective view showing a detail of the invention.

In the drawings, the numeral 10 designates the frame of the toy which resembles a pistol in outline and which may be cast in two similar halves joined in the longitudinal center of the pistol and riveted or otherwise secured together, or the frame may be casti'ior the greater part. in one piece, open on one side to receive the mechanism which, after being inserted, is closed by a plate rigidly fixed to the main frame. Both methods of construction are old and well known.

At the front of the frame 10 below the barrel 11 is a chamber 12 to receive a paper cap strip 13 wound into a roll from whence it. is fed upward against a-vertical wall or tiring abutment 14 in rear of the barrel 13. Pivoted within the frame 10 but adapted to swing through an opening in the top of the same is the hammer 15, the forward end of which is arranged to strike squarely against the firing abutment 14 or the cap strip 13 when the latter is in position.

Depending from the under side of the hammer 15 is a finger 16 by means of which the hammer is retracted, said finger having a recess 17 in its lower end for a purpose hereinafter described. The hammer 15 is further provided with a shoulder 18 at its rear against which one end a of a substantially U-shaped spring 19 bears with sutlioient force to explode the caps when the hammer is released.

Below the hammer 15 a trigger 20 is pivot'ed on a intle 21. This trigger comprises substantia 1y three radiating members, namely the finger piece 22 projecting below the frame 10 for firing the pistol and protected by a guard 23, a hammer cocking arm 24, and a rearwardly extending arm 25 on which the cap strip feeding pawl 26 is fulcrumed. The opposite end I) of the U-shaped spring 19 presses on the feeding pawl 2-6 near its fulcrum point and, while holding said pawl against the cap strip 13, also tends to keep the tri ger 20 in its normal position represented in Figs. 1 and 3. The cocking arm 24 projects upwardly into position to engage the finger 16 and raise the hammer 15 when the trigger is pulled, but, as the trigger approaches its limit of movement, the cocking arm moves beyond the finger and the hammer, under the influence.

,of the spring 19, returns and strikes the firing abutment with sufficient force to explode a paper cap. The same spring returns the trigger to normal after it has been relieved of pressure.

It will be noted that the hammer and its finger 16 are integral, and as the cocking arm 24 is rigid with the trigger, some means must be adopted to permit the return of the trigger after each explosion, there being no intermediate ratchet or equivalent mechanism between the hammer and trigger. This means is provided by flattening the upper end of the cocking arm 24 and setting it at. an angle to its plane of movement, as clearly shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, so that it will enter the angular recess 1? in the finger 16 when the trigger is pulled and raise the hammer. Continued pulling on the trigger causes the cocking arm to slide over the finger 16 which, as the hammer falls, passes behind the cooking arm. When the trigger is released to return to position under tension of the spring 19, the angularly disposed upper end of the cocking arm 24 encounters the inclined face 27 of the finger 16 and slides past said finger, the pivotal connections of the trigger and hammer being made sulliciently loose to permit this.

The rear end of the trigger finger 25 has a transverse groove 28 on its upper face in which is seated the lower rounded end 2!) of the cap strip feeding pawl 26, its opposite end being beveled and held. in contact with the cap strip 13 by the spring 19 as previously described. The pawl 26 is preferably notched on one side as at 30 to permit free movement of the cocking arm 24, and formed with a seat 31 for the end 6 of the spring 19.

From the above description the operation of the pistol will be readily understood, it being self-evident that each time the trigger is pulled, the hammer will be raised. and the feeding pawl 26 simultaneously acting on the cap strip 13, will raise a cap or explosive spot on said strip into position to be struck by the hammer when it falls, which it does automatically by the force of spring 19 after the cocking arm 24 becomes disengaged from the finger 16. On releasing the trigger, the cocking arm 24 and feeding pawl return to normal position under tension of the same spring 19.

Easy access to the chamber 12 for renewing the cap strip roll 13 and inspecting the internal mechanism of the pistol is provided by making anopening in one side of the frame 10 from the magazine 12 back nearly to therear of the pistol and closing said opening by a swinging cover plate 35 mounted on a pintle 36 carried in the frame 10 and a. bracket 37 on oneside of the frame.

Extending inwardly from the pivotal end of the cover plate 35 is a block 38 having a flattened side 39, see Fig. 10, on which bears one arm of the spring 19 with suflicient force to hold the cover plate closed over the opening in the side of the frame. \Vhen, however, access to the magazine is desired, the cover plate is swung downwardly against the pressure of the spring 19 which. yields and thus opens the magazine 12 and the interior of the pistol to loading and inspection. The pintle 36 may extend longitudinally through the block 38, or studs 40 may be formed onthc outside of the plate and block, as in. Fig. 10, in either case sufficient play or freedom is allowed in the hearings to permit the cover plate to swing over the side of the pistol.

It will be seen that a toy pistol constructcd as above described is very simple. cheap and strong, and will not readily get out of order. There are but three movable parts, the hammer, the trigger, and the strip feed ing pawl, and one spring actuates all of said parts besides serving as a pressure means for holding the cover plate in closed position.

What I claim is 1. A device of the class described, comprising a frame having an abutment, a hammer, a trigger having a rigid arm for positively actuating said.hammer, an explosive strip feeding pawl mounted to rock in a groove in said trigger, and a single spring in operative relation with the several movable parts and also serving to hold the strip feeding pawl in said groove.

2. A device of the class described, com.- prising a frame having an abutment, and an opening in one side, a hammer, a trigger for actuating said hammer, an explosive strip feeding pawl fulcrumed on said trigger, a closing plate for the opening in said frame, and a single spring in operative relation with said hammer, trigger, pawl and closing plate.

3. A device of the class described contain ing a hammer provided with an integral lifting finger having a beveled side at its lower endand a recess in said end at the rear, a trigger having an integral cocking arm the end of which is set at an angle to its plane of movement and designed to engage the recess in said finger and raise the hammer when the trigger is moved in one direction and slip past the beveled side of said finger when the trigger is moved in the opposite direction, and a spring common to both hammer and trigger.

4. A device of the class described, comprising a frame with a firing abutment, a hammer formed with an integral lifting finger beveled op one side, a trigger having an integral cocking arm beveled on the side next the beveled side of said finger for actuating said finger and raising said hammer, a pawl for feeding a cap strip over said abutment fulcrumed on and actuated by said trigger, and a spring common to the hammer, the trigger and the feeding pawl.

5. A device of the class described, comprising a frame with a firing abutment, a ammer loosely pivoted in said frame and provided. with an integral lifting finger, a trigger also loosely pivoted in the frame comprising a finger piece for operating the trigger, a cocking arm for engaging the hammer finger to raise the hammer, and an intermediate arm, said parts being integral, a feeding pawl fulcrumed on said intermediate arm for feeding a strip of caps over the abutment, and a spring common to the hammer, the triggerand the feeding awl and holding said feeding pawl on said intermediate arm.

6. A device of the class described comprising a frame containing a chamber for olding a strip of caps, said frame having an oening on one side to uncover said cham er, a cover plate pivoted at one side of said magazine, an axial projection on said plate provided with a flattened surface, and a sprin arranged to bear on said flattened slde or holding said plate when in place relatively immovable.

7. A device of the class described comprising a frame containing a magazine or chamber for holding a strip of caps, said frame having an opening through one side to uncover said chamber, a firing hammer, a trigger for operating said hammer, and a cover plate for said opening pivoted in rear of said magazine provided with an axial block flattened on one side, and a sprin common to the hammer and trigger, and bearing on the flattened surface of the cover plate block to keep said plate closed over the opening.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

\VILLIAM R. ATKINSON.

Witnesses:

Josnrn D. Krncoae, E. H. FISHER. 

